"You know I knew your granddad
lass?"
I was heaving out breaths, keeled over
while trying to draw enough oxygen in to fill my lungs. Duncan had been calling
out hits for two hours now, two hours of using muscles I'd never even thought
I'd had. I was left with limbs so heavy it was agonising to lift them.
"What?" I managed to puff out.
He grinned at me, "Donae look that old
huh? I'm older than Sam if you want the truth, old enough ta have met
him."
I couldn't fathom how Duncan would have
known a grandfather I'd never met."How?"
He chuckled at my panting, "He was a guard
way back when, knew you were something ta do with him when I saw your wolf.
Only a few family lines have that kind in their genetics."
"I don't understand." I'd never
heard much about the man, my father had never spoken about the rift that had
been between them.
"Oh he was a proud man, too proud some
say. Didn't like that your da' couldn't shift ta the same kind of wolf. Thought
less of us primitive beings." Duncan smiled in a way that showed no
animosity at his words, just amusement. "It was a different time back
then, a lot of bigotry in variety," he shrugged a little, "'spose
there still is in some places."
I looked at him stunned,"I didn't
know. When I shifted I didn't know what I was."
Duncan cocked his head at me," Yeah,
guess it makes sense that your da' wouldn't tell you about him. They didn't
leave things on the best of terms, course he still followed in his footsteps
didn't he? Joined the guard, just made sure your grandpa was long dead
first." His booming chuckle was an echo in the otherwise silent room.
"So I'm normal?"
That set him off again. "Oh lass, you
anything but normal." My frown did nothing to deter him.
"But yes, your wolf ain't that
different. Just unusual that's all, some say you'll be what we'll all end up
as. The best of both worlds, ain't that right?"
I shrugged, I saw perfection in all wolf
forms, slight advantages to each.
"Tell me, why didn’t you get
away?"
I screwed my face up, only now realising
his smile had dropped and his hazel eyes were focused entirely on me.
"Did you want it ta happen?"
I couldn't get passed the confusion, what
was he talking about? Had I missed something?
His face turned up into a cruel smirk,
"Did you like it? Did you like what that man did ta you?"
My wolf rumbled within but I held onto her,
he couldn't mean what I thought could he?
"That why you donae want Carver ta
touch you? 'Cause you want that man?"
I think my breathing stopped as my eyes
widened in shock, my hands clenched into fists and I stared at the redhead in
front of me.
His eyes narrowed at mine and that smirk
only got wider, "You wanna hit me lass? Either you liked it or you're
weak, ain't no other option."
My teeth ground against each and I heard
cracking in my brain as the enamel broke."What are you doing Duncan?"
He stepped forward a pace, putting him too
close for comfort and allowing me to see the sweat running down the creases in
his crinkled brow. "I'm showing you how weak you are Arya. You think this
is bad, you can't take this? I think you're lying ta me. You should have incredible
control over your wolf, I see you controlling everything else but her."
I shook my head, he knew nothing about my
situation, how could he do this? "You're so wrong."
He only stepped closer,"Am I? Then why
is this bothering you? You have all that power under your skin, why haven’t you
killed him yet?"
I growled low at him, a burning acid in my
gut working it's way up my throat. "I’m...waiting" I ground out
through clenched teeth.
"Oh Yeah.? Watcha waiting for lass?
You donae need control ta kill him, in fact that kinda gets in the way of the
killing."
Duncan stepped back and bent to the side of
the mat, he strapped thick padding to his thigh and turned back to face me.
"We're moving on ta kicks now. Maybe when we're done, you can convince me
that you're not a weak and scared little girl who's taking out her anger on all
those around her."
I flinched at that.
A weak and scared
little girl.
He'd hit a home run with that comment and left nothing but
that burning acid behind, torching it's way on a path of silent agony and
faithless uncertainty. I hated that comment, it brought nothing but memories of
pain and humiliation. But more than that it brought truth slamming it's way
through my closed mind.
"Donae look so down lass. We knock you
down and we build you up. You'll hate me, but you'll be better for it."
I looked at him differently, a man who'd
seemed nothing but a cheerful, strong wolf. Maybe he had a little more to him
than that first glance. I hesitantly nodded and took an opposing stance to him.
He grinned again at me, "What was that
girls name? That human you killed?"
I blinked at him, my wolf glaring beneath
my skin. "I didn't kill her." I seethed between a hiss of breath and
a tightly wound jaw.
He frowned," Oh you didn't? Coulda
sworn that's what you said."
I shook my head again and took deep calming
breaths, pulling in sweat scented air and breathing out slicked oil, tar that
clogged my arteries, filling every hollow part with blackened stains of shame.
Not
my fault, his.
"I didn't kill her." I reiterated,
tried to make it strong and sure in statement.
Duncan smirked again, latching onto yet
another vice he'd found in my armour. "Sure you didn't lass", as he
quirked an eyebrow.
"Give me a roundhouse on your right
leg, if you can't reach you're gonna keep doing it till you can get that
pathetically formed limb high enough."
My wolf flashed eyes at Duncan, she really
did not like this man right now. I hooked her in chains, swallowed any pride I
had left and forced my heavy limbs into action. My wolf was strong and
powerful, a force of nature whipping her way through disrespect and smashing
her way through Duncan’s words. The human though was missing, missing the same
certainty of their worth. The animal had no wavering thought on her strength,
she was a perfect creation. I was flawed in many ways, maybe this was what he'd
teach me. That, or I'd end up killing him.
I grunted in effort as my leg met his, a
resounding slap of the power of my kick introduced to the thick padding
strapped to his thigh.
Duncan sighed, "Weak. Again!"
I heaved a breath, knowing that this was
only the start. That he would keep me going until I fell, either in exhaustion
or failure. I'd just about had enough of failure.
I kept striking that huge thigh, encased in
rubber and foam filling. The slaps became deep pounds as my form became more in
tune with the movement, as my muscles learnt through repetition and as my quick
temper became locked behind a steel vault of concentration and slow burning
fury.
I was not weak, not any more. And this
guard would never convince me otherwise, no matter what words came out of his
mouth. He wasn't like Lane, a tortured man synchronising with my soul. Not like
Charlie, a puzzle of ease and frenzy that caused wonder in both myself and my
wolf. He was something else.
He was happy only hours later, when the sun
started to dip in the sky leaving behind a narrow river of gold, lowlights of
treasure spanning the dew covered yellowed land. He seemed content with my
progress, maybe happy had been too strong a word. He walked me to the doors
leading to freedom and I trailed slightly behind him, no longer sure of the man
he had shown himself to be.
"Duncan?" I called out a nagging
question stuck in my mind.
He turned slightly and eyed me through a
narrowed gaze, "Yes?"
I pursed my lips and stared at his hazel
eyes, both friend and foe swirling within the centuries evident within.
"Why would you think I killed her?"
He grinned at me, partly that cheeky smile
I'd come to know and partly the new smirk I wasn't sure of. "It's not what
I
think is it lass? It's what you believe."
I frowned at him,"What do you think
then?"
He laughed at me, "I think it'll all
come out in the end. Nothing stays hidden that deep forever." He winked at
me as he nodded at the approaching Carver and walked off path towards the woods
surrounding us.
I stood waiting for my Captain to reach me,
confident that he was a solid wall at my back, strong enough to hold even my
battered soul up. Watching the retreating Duncan and following him with confusion
misting over my gaze. Just when I thought I had at least the guards figured
out, another spanner thrown in the works.
A gravelly voice shivered it's way down my
neck, lips close enough to graze my skin. "You have fun today
cherry?"
I breathed deeply, allowing that cinnamon
to work it's magic on my nerves. "Not what I'd call fun exactly."
Carver chuckled, a warmth billowing through
my chest, chasing away the coldness left by Duncan and his unique brand of
training.
"I told Sam I'd cook for you
tonight," he rumbled against my ear. "I want to feed my mate." I
felt an almost nothing touch, a run of his fingers down my arm and the raise of
hairs that bowed in his wake.
I shook myself out of my own head, tired
and aching and seriously needing a bath. "I need to soak, for like twelve
hours."
Carver chuckled again, that laugh did
wondrous things for my wired nerves."I got you cherry scented bath salts,
can't wait to smell that on your skin." He breathed deeply against my
neck, inhalations that tickled the sensitive area until I fell victim to his
relaxing, protective presence. I let my guard down, became soft and pliant
against him.
"I'd like to carry you home Arya, if
you'd let me?"
I let my eyes droop close and for just a
moment, trusted the arms that gently wound their way around me and inched my
body into compliance. He clasped me in a light but firm hold and made me feel
nothing but safe. It was contrary to every other feeling I had towards touch, a
safety in the most unlikely place.
I allowed him to carry me all the way home.
My trust in this man reviving, trust he had yet to break. I had grown since I'd
found him, no longer the savage I'd first been, fighting demon's that only I
could see. Now I was feral, a little uncouth in a civilised world but here, with
him, it was okay to be as animal or as human as I wanted. I reached out and
touched the lips twitching in smiles as he held me in his arms. His eyes
lightened in utter reverence as my touch registered. A tiny hint of beauty in a
world gone mad with barbarity.
"Morning
Arya."
Lane's
face was a mixture of blacks and blues. His puffy lips were split in a macabre
parody of a smile. It seemed Carver had finally caught up with him at some
point early this morning. His maniacal grin proved he had enjoyed every single
moment of his newly acquired bruises.
I
raised my eyebrows at him and shook my head, there was something very wrong
with that man. We stood in front of a convoy of vehicles, four of those all
black ATV’s lined up waiting for their passengers. Another three smaller trucks
were grouped behind just waiting for the call to go, showing yet more of that
overkill the guard were so fond of. A gathering of twenty men stood silently
awaiting orders on the lawn surrounding the farmhouse. Charlie and Duncan
whispered quietly to each other off to the side, low enough for even my newly
enhanced hearing to miss. Remy sat on his haunches staring at the collective of
guards, drool running down his jaw as he kept his mouth wide open revealing
sharp teeth. His head butted my leg every now and then before he went back to
stare-drooling, I think I preferred his previous snoring to this new habit.
Sam
ambled down the front steps of the porch, Luce glued to his side, his wide grin
almost as maniacal as Lanes.
"Mornin'.
Well ain't tha' a pretty face ya got boy? Look like ya lost a figh' wit' a big
ass truck."
Lane
grunted at Sam and rolled his eyes, a tiny glimmer in the greyness showed
through with what I now knew to be amusement. Sam nudged my shoulder with his
and turned his gaze to mine.
"We
gotta whole lotta fun planned today girlie," he chuckled at Lane for a
moment, "got a hundred on how many heads roll between you an' ya
boyfrien'. I'm bettin' on five, dun be disappointin' me, blondie ova' there got
more money than me."
I
stared at Sam completely unamused,"You're betting on how many governors we
kill?"
Sam
just shrugged and grinned mischievously at me. "Wha'? Man gets bored all
by himself while ya out wit' them guards all day."
I
sighed and went back to patting Remy on the head, he seemed the most
intelligent one out of the lot of them right now. Carver appeared out of the
front door, long legs encased in black and a wide chest restricted by a
matching shirt that failed to hide any of the sculpted mass beneath. No matter
how many times I saw that man, his image would always take my breath away. My
eyes followed the long line of bunching muscle as it contracted in movement,
his gait a motion of heavy grace. His black eyes locked on me and I was
trapped. A prisoner to his presence, tied up in all that he projected. The
grouped guards stilled all movement and became frozen in the power that
stretched and ebbed in the crisp air. It was a thrilling moment to realise how
much I'd been given in one package, how truly grateful I should be. Fate could
wait for her thanks though, it would be a long time coming.
Carver
snapped his eyes to Charlie and nodded at him, his second responded with a
"move out" to the guards and every vehicle was soon full to the brim
of tense, focused wolves. He took my hand in his and rubbed his cheek with my
palm, those tingles an orchestra of sensation on the sensitive skin. I was led
to the first truck in a daze of cinnamon and deep, charcoal eyes. Carver sat me
in the front seat and closed the door with a low chuckle and a fleeting kiss to
my forehead. I blinked as my sudden addiction was cruelly cut off at the closed
door and turned around to see Sam and Lane in the back seats. The Old man was
slyly grinning at me while Lane looked thoroughly unimpressed with the large
dog panting in his face. I had fed them both eggs this morning, my mouth
twitched at the sour expression crossing the blonde's bruised features.
I
was kept occupied the entire half an hour journey by Sam’s ribbing of Lane and
Carver's free hand rubbing tiny, almost non existent circles on my Jean covered
thigh. I stared at his hand curiously, I felt no burning need to remove it and
that in itself caused enough confusion for the whole ride. We came to a
clearing surrounded by forest, a large slate roofed building occupying the
gravelled ground. Ten or so cars were parked to the right side and I assumed
this meant our meeting was already in session. Half the trucks had peeled off
before we had entered the short driveway and I was pretty sure we were already
being sighted by Carver's men, a silent watch of rigid wolves.
We
parked on the opposite side to the others and Carver was out of the vehicle and
by my side before I'd even take the seat belt off. The air was thick with unspoken
words and as he took my hand in his and walked me to the front door, Sam and
Lane covering my back and the dogs at my feet, he turned and caught my
attention with a squeeze.
"Promise
you'll stay by me cherry?"
His
husky voice was loaded with wolf and I worried his control was within snapping
distance. I nodded and squeezed his hand back, "You stay by me too."
His
chuckle was light relief in the face of uncertainty. I was however not
inordinately concerned. Not only had Carver gone completely overboard with the
guards at our back, I was also utterly confident in the Captain's ability. The
governors may have some claim to rule but they were not more than the man
beside me. They were older, questionably wiser, but not stronger. In our world,
strength relied on nothing but genetics and circumstance. Age did not give you
power that you were not born with. This undoubtedly caused these ruling men
some of their greed and envy.
We
entered the building by a large steel door, bolted to the heavy hinges and no
doubt impossible for a human to open. I had a moment of amusement at the pains
taken to make these buildings wolf-proof, I'm sure the cost of replacing
previous doors had led to this solid steel one being attached.
The
hallway was dark in its foreboding and ridiculously crowded with all the wolves
at my back. A low hum of voices could be heard from a closed door at the end of
the long corridor. I walked quickly towards it, claustrophobic in the crowded
narrowness. At the door, Carver gently pulled me behind him and I rolled my
eyes at the wall his back had become. I could feel Sam and Lane behind me, the
dogs brushing up against my legs and somewhere behind my group, Charlie and
Duncan’s presence heavy in the atmosphere.
I
followed Carver's steady footsteps and the hush of voices was a flow of loaded
silence in a room full of barely contained primitivism. I peeked out from
behind Carver's back, a narrow space between one large arm and his side
provided me with ample viewing. I met the gaze of every single man standing in
groups at the far wall and was left unimpressed by all but four of them.
Fifteen
wolves in human form took seats in a row of overblown importance and I sneered
at the sight they presented. The four in the middle acknowledged Carver with
smiles, some sly and some grim. I paid no heed to any but one. A man tall
enough to meet Carver's eyes when standing and a gaze black enough to rival his
own.
"Father."
Carver nodded at the man.
My
gaze turned feral as my wolf rumbled at the man keeping me behind him, a single
claw forced it's way out of my forefinger and I took great pleasure in stabbing
the tip into Carver's side. Blood pooled quickly around the wound and I smiled
at Carver's wince and in drawn breath of air. Had he thought that wasn't
important information? That perhaps I didn't need to know?
He
was lucky to escape with just the one mark.
His
grip on my wrist tightened and he drew me to his side, his eyebrow raised at my
glare. He turned back to his Father and gestured in my direction.
"This
is my mate, Arya."
His
father stood with a dark smile, his size rivalling his sons but coming up just
short. "It's lovely to meet you Arya."
I
cocked my head towards him and nodded in return, I was keeping my mouth shut
for the moment and his smile was an answer that he understood my position.
"Would
you care to sit?"
There
were chairs stacked to the side and Duncan broke formation to haul enough over
to us. I took a place next to Carver though I had an overwhelming urge to
ignore him and sit beside Sam instead. That of course was until his father
turned to Sam and smiled a welcome.
"Samuel,
good to see you."
I
narrowed eyes at Sam, when we got out of here I was going to get some answers
from him.
Carver's
father returned to his seat once we found ours and ran a hand through his thick
mop of black hair. He was truly a copy of the man beside me, a little more worn
around the edges, a little less overbearing in his nature, but it was obvious
to see Carver was an overgrown, carbon copy of the original.
"Arya,
my name is Fraser." Carver's father held my gaze as I studied his face.
"You have been called here because of the incident involving the Alpha of
the Moonshadow pack."
Lane's
snort behind me was distracting from Fraser’s rumbling tone. He turned
irritated eyes on the blonde sat at my back before flicking them at me
again."Would you like to explain the circumstances?"
I
peered at the man sat at the head of the row of governors, a brunette at his
side was sneering at me and his disrespect was antagonising the animal now
pacing within. "No."
The
row of men stilled all movement and Carver's hand clenched where it lay loosely
on his thigh.
"Excuse
me?"
I
shrugged at the chosen speaker,"I don't have to explain my actions, he was
weak and challenged my wolf, he died."
A
few rumbles were heard from the bench and I rolled my eyes at the sound, I
couldn't comprehend why they would want such a weak Alpha in charge of a pack
anyway.
Fraser
nodded and smirked my way, "Very well, could you explain why you are not
yet mated to my son?"
Carvers
roar overtook my own and I felt Sam’s hands grip my shoulders to keep me seated
while my breaths blew out in pants. My vision was hazed in gold and the black
eyes of Fraser were narrowed in curiosity at my own.
"ENOUGH!"
Carver's shout deafened the room and I felt his large hands cover my own as he
lifted them to my nose and blanketed my wolf in an overload of cinnamon.
The
brunette next to Fraser was glaring in my direction, a sneer of disapproval
evident on his face.
"Father,
you will tell Matthew to take his eyes off my mate or I'll cut them out of his
face." Carver's voice was almost entirely wolf, gravelled and harsh as all
eyes snapped to his slowly withering control.
Voices
rose to shouting, a group of men acting like children in their name calling and
tantrums. I blocked all sound from my hearing and attempted to calm the animal
murderously stalking around my head.
I
slowly heard whispers break through the block in my ears. A voice that slyly
persuaded action, one that needled and attempted to trick the wolf inside me. I
turned to see Sam arguing with two governors to my right, Lane with a hand on
Carver's arm restraining him from launching himself at the glaring brunette.
"
What
are you waiting for?
"
Whispers
in my ears. Words turning my thoughts around in my head.
"
Kill
him
."
My
Wolf was blood and vengeance, a stalker in the night pacing around my savage
mind.
"
No
more waiting. Go. Kill him.
"
I
stood in the cacophony of noise. My voice drowned out in the chaos that
surrounded me.
"
Kill
him
."
I
looked at Carver, his muscles straining against the shirt he wore, movement
under the surface skin a sure sign of the animal pressing for release. I looked
at Sam with the two dogs at his side, growling and baring teeth at the men
shouting back with red faces. I looked at Lane smiling in the midst of anarchy.
"
Kill
him."
I
backed from the room and slipped through the open doorway, one last look at the
scene before me. My wolf burst through in the hallway, her sprint displacing
oncoming air and slicing easily though the negative force. I breached the steel
door and gave not a single thought to the guards waiting in the forests cover.
They had no hope of catching me.
So this is where I end it all.